The launch of an innovative health and wellbeing project for students: Thetford Academy
Thetford Academy, a secondary school which is part of the Inspiration Trust, was one of four schools in Breckland to receive a combined total of £33,000 through the Opening Schools Facilities fund last year. The Opening Schools Facilities fund is an initiative which offers schools incentive to extend their existing facility opening hours, so that more young people may benefit from being physically active outside of school hours.
Thetford Academy CrossFit takeover: The Aims
Thetford’s project is a CrossFit takeover, designed to support students through weekly fitness sessions. These sessions were co-created by a local cross-fit instructor and the school’s PE staff.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with local providers from 3 Bros CrossFit Gym, targets a small cohort of students identified by pastoral staff based on specific criteria such as social confidence, health issues post-transition, and low physical health.
The project specifically focuses on young people from ethnically diverse communities, those with long-term health conditions, students eligible for free school meals (FSM), and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Partnership and Delivery
The project is delivered in partnership with 3 Bros Cross Fit Gym, a new community provision led by a former student of Thetford Academy.
The lead instructor plans and delivers specialist fitness sessions and provides supervised use of the gym for the cohort each week.
The lead teacher from Thetford Academy is responsible for identifying students, obtaining parental consent, and monitoring and evaluating the project.
The sessions include technical lifting, core strength activities, fitness challenges, and access to specialist equipment at the community provision. The project aims to increase students’ resilience, physical health, and social skills.
“As a school, we are really keen to use this opportunity to target some of our most inactive young people with the aim of raising their confidence inside and outside of school, resulting in them becoming happier, healthier young people.”
Danny Burton, Thetford Academy
“Approximately 1 in 4 children in Breckland are classified as inactive. The OSF project has supported local strategic objectives to inspire children and young people to be active”
Gabriel Mansbridge, Active Norfolk Locality Officer (Breckland)
Benefits and Impact
Since its inception, the project has significantly benefited the school, students, and the local community. Key impacts include:
- Increased Community Engagement: The project has facilitated collaboration with an experienced local provider. It has added value and variety to the school’s PE and sports provisions.
- Awareness of Local Provision: Students and staff are now more aware of the cross-fit gym. They feel more comfortable in directing students to the club.
- Targeted Support for Students: The innovative design of the project allows for effective targeting of students who need it most.
- Family Engagement: Efforts to engage families include letters outlining the project’s intent, and activity packs for students. Also, initiatives to encourage physical activity outside school hours.
“This funding allows us to be able to offer more opportunities to be physically active outside of PE lessons. It also gives our amazing prefects an opportunity to add to their leadership skills, acting as good role models and interacting with other young students in the school.”
Graeme Richardson, Thetford Academy Head of PE
Challenges
The main challenge Thetford Academy faced when establishing this project was ensuring the sustainability of the project. The main concern was the ongoing costs. The cost of the CrossFit instructors was made possible through the use of the Opening Schools Facilities funding. Without the, the school would have required a financial contribution from the families. This would then have thrown up additional barriers for those on lower incomes. Thanks to the funding, the sessions can be held and accessed by all students.
Find out more
To find out more about the Health and Wellbeing project at Thetford Academy, or to see how our Locality Team can help you with your priorities, get in touch with our Localities Team.
Find the Locality Officer for your area and get in touch below.